Mr. Lu signaled to the bearded caretaker, little Lucky, through the glass door.
It was a sign to take the kid to the changing room. Calla was going to receive new clothes, well not entirely new, but her uniform.
That sign also meant that Calla's companion didn't wish to see her nor bid farewell. The woman would be leaving without the little girl's knowledge. Unmistakably sad, thought Lucky to himself.
He called the only woman at the facility, one of the cookers, to assist the 3 year old.
When the cooker reached the changing room though, Calla was fully dressed with clothes that were meant to be for little boys.
Little blue trousers, little white shirt and little black shoes. Lucky and the cooker found the sight to be adorable. Calla appeared quite satisfied with herself.
And indeed, she was.
The skinny Santa left her alone in a room full of clothes and told her to wait. She saw pants and skirts. She saw shirts, blouses and dresses. She saw shoes and sandals.
At the moment, she realized that skinny Santa would make her wear the most uncomfortable options that would limit her movements aiming to make her look like a doll. Big humans like doll clothing on little humans for some unknown reason.
Why would she want to look like a doll? Dolls can't move. They don't eat. They can't play on the rain and kick up mud. She had seen big trees in the yard, how would she climb them with a skirt? And that blouse with it's long sleeves, it's bowling hot outside, why would she want to wear that?
Having weighed the pros and cons Calla decided to start dressing the other options as fast as she could.
Calla adored it.
Her panties wouldn't show no matter how much she crawled. She could freely move. The shirt had short sleeves and a pocket where she could store her candies and rocks. The shoes, she had to try many, to find one that fitted, but... my, my, she felt like walking in the clouds, so comfortable. She also threw away her ribbon allowing her hair to cascade at her back.
Calla Amara was even more satisfied seeing the pleasant look on the big humans's faces. She must be pretty. She's pretty, clothing is just complementary and this new one must be highlighting her prettiness to a whole new level, thought the girl.
Little Calla started running through the changing room displaying how well her small figure looked. She twirled in front of mirrors and laughed while moving her tiny arms.
Little Lucky and the cooker were cracking looking at here, they found it to be refreshing. Such a pretty girl didn't even complain about how the clothes weren't new nor her size. She knew how to talk already and she didn't try to choose the most cute ones. She genuinely just wanted to play.
Then, out of nowhere, Calla stormed out of the room.
She ran back from where they had come from. From that glass door she saw an empty room and henceforward she continued running towards the front yard. Lucky and the cooker were, stunned, frozen in place for a moment, and when they started running, the child had already reached the out yard.
Calla thought of how Ms. Daisy would praise her prettiness if she saw her on her new clothes. She had to find her.
Unfortunately, the sight that welcomed Calla was the one where Ms. Daisy took her little luggage out of the car and entered, sparing just a single glance at the orphanage's enter where she saw Calla staring back.
Ms. Daisy didn't wave at her, she didn't even said a thing, she didn't smile.
That was when it hit for Calla. She was going to be abandoned. Abandon was one of the words, one of the concepts, that Calla was aware of, without actually, knowing what it meant. Right now she connected the dots and the final image wasn't a pretty one. She didn't wish that meaning to fall upon her.
Calla bolted towards the car with all her might. For the first time, she cried in front of strangers, yet she couldn't care less.
She wanted to say goodbye to Ms. Daisy.
She wanted a hug. She wanted to be praised and she wanted to listen Ms. Daisy laugh at her cute lack of humbleness like she always do. She wanted to go back to granny and Ms. Daisy. She would even dress up like a doll if that's what they wanted. They didn't want her? Was it because she disliked doll clothing? Because she ate to much? She talked to much? Maybe she hadn't been cute enough?
She would be cuter. She would eat less. She would be quiet. She would be a living porcelain doll...
But, why did they have to leave her? Why Ms. Daisy left without a goodbye? Is Calla a bad girl?
For all the present adults and oldest children, who understood what was happening, the scene was just to painful to look at. That tiny 3 year old baby running after a car while crying to her heart's content.
Poor kid.
...
Calla learned to hide it.
At least she thought no one noticed.
Her sorrow.
She cried everyday at every opportunity that she got to be alone. Calla believed that crying was part of it. She was only 3 years old. She knew she had been abandoned but as for why she didn't know and she actually didn't care anymore.
It's been months and her memories were fading little by little. She just knew that "abandon" was a concept applied to her and it made her sad. Genius or not, she's 3.
She became a sad child.
She only ate the enough to be awake, hardly ever eating twice a day.
She stopped talking.
The only thing that remained the same about the girl's personality, was the fact that she wouldn't wear dresses and skirts. The caretakers decided to let her be. After all, that 3 year old baby was already showing signs of depression. Even the other kids tried their best to not disturb her.
Her manners, behavior and attire also affected the suitors - potential parents.
They wanted to see the lovely, smiling and cute little girl from the pictures. Yet, the one introduced to them was a shy, mute and weird looking kid dressed like a boy. This one will never be adopted, they thought.
...
One day though, she changed.
The now 5 year old Calla got dumbstruck for the very first time.
All of the children had to attend classes. Even though she already knew how to read, she wasn't an exception and out of boredom wouldn't try skip the classes. Reading was her only hobby, maybe school was nice, she thought.
Time after time, every time she placed foot at the classroom she got progressively more surprised. Or annoyed.
'Are all these boys stupid or are I way to superior?'
This day, a boy named Elliot was having a tough time spelling the word "orange". Elliot was 8 years old.
Calla discovered that besides dumb classmates she also had a short temper. She stood up and talked in class for the very first time.
It's not proper though, to repeat what she said.
Let us just say that she humiliated without leaving a soul scape. She pointed out the teacher's inability to teach and said it was simply deplorable how the so called teacher, watched the boys struggling without lifting her eyes from her stupid looking magazine to help.
She also condemned the boys, for not putting any effort whatsoever into their studies. Weren't they ashamed that a 5 year old could read better than them? She said they would sleep on cardboard in the future. That their bodies could take them somewhere, but their minds, if used, will take them everywhere.
She had all of them wide eyed for they truly believed she was mute. They all knew she was smart, could write and read better than an adult yet, no one has ever seen her speak.
And now not only talking but angrily lecturing without sparing the teacher. If they weren't so offended they would've laughed.
Mr. Lu, one of the few that had listened to the little girl's voice during these past two years heard about the incident. The teacher was livid and felt completely disrespected.
Mr. Lu on the other hand was delighted. He reprehended Calla with a smile on his face. She was finally taking initiative.
When Calla was told to apologize in front of the class, once again her words were memorable
"Just so all of you know, I'm not here because I think I was wrong. I'm not wrong and deep down you all know it. I'm only here because some are bothered by the truth and to those my most insincere apologies" says the girl looking straight at an angry teacher,
" But, just a thing my dear classmates, mates if I may call, progress is only achievable with change. Those who cannot change their mindsets won't be able to progress for there will be no change"
Calla was now looking at those boys, dumb stupid boys and for the first time in a while she briefly smiled, "All of you took me for a mute, did you also thought I was deaf? I've been called abandoned girl for two years straight. I should let all of you rotten on your own sea of stupidity. But you know, I believe there are two types of bad people. Those who are stupid and those who see others being stupid and do nothing to help" again Calla was looking at the teacher,
"If it makes it easier, just think that I'm doing this for myself. I don't wish to be a bad person. So, mates, please accept my help. I have nothing better to do with my time and it would be my honor to teach those who want to learn how to read. Who need to learn." the five year old sighs at this, "I can't do it if none of you actually tries. Please, allow me to help" 'you should all be happy, over the moon, that I'm offering so stop staring', she really wanted to add this part but it would've been impolite... impolit..er
The little girl had stunned all of her peers again. Most of them were amazed of how a little girl could talk so difficult. They smiled at her, some of them even laughed. It escaped them that she called them stupid. More then once. They really need the help, thought Mr. Lu while supervising Calla's apology.
He was also, once again, surprised by the little girl's actions. She said absolutely nothing that was asked for her to say. She might have provoked the teacher further for that matter. Yet, she has shown genuine worry towards her classmates, innate concern. She is good.
Little Elliot raised his hand and asked
"Will I really be able to read and talk like you?"
Calla Amara looked shocked, "Of course not. Once you get on my current level I'll have advanced even more to make sure no one will ever reach me humph"
"(...)"
and that was it, the boys bursted in laughter.
These same words would've sounded extremely offensive if any other person said it. But it was Calla.
We must remember she's a five year old, she has baby voice and she had just showed concern towards them. That's something that they weren't used with. Most of the times people wouldn't care enough to lecture them the way she did. They've found it to be oddly pleasant, how that sad little kid was finally revealing herself.
Still...
Calla saw them laughing at her, all she felt was heartache. There once was a big human that laughed at her attitude... will she be abandoned if she starts talking to much?
Who knows ! ! !